Hi Toni!
Welcome back to the Disney Parks Moms Panel.
Making reservations for a
Fantasmic! Dining Package gives you the best of both worlds - you will enjoy the meal you wanted anyway, but will receive a voucher for VIP seating for a showing of
Fantasmic! later the same day. You don't need to turn up at the theater so early, either, so you have more time to enjoy Disney's Hollywood Studios. The only way to book a Fantasmic! Dining Package is to
make a new reservation here - your regular dinner reservation at Mama Melrose's Ristorante Italiano cannot be upgraded to include a VIP seating voucher for Fantasmic! I would suggest you either make a reservation for an earlier time (you will still see Fantasmic! later the same day), or choose one of the other restaurants including in the dining package -
Hollywood & Vine, or
The Hollywood Brown Derby - if they have a later time to suit you. Once you have made your new reservation, don't forget to cancel your original restaurant booking to avoid any charges (you need to cancel any dining at least 24 hours beforehand). You will be given your Fantasmic! seating voucher when you arrive at your chosen restaurant, which entitles you to a seat in the reserved section, on a first come, first served basis. You will not need to arrive at the Hollywood Hills Amphitheater until 25 minutes before showtime, but you can turn up whenever you want to, up to 90 minutes in advance.
I know you will enjoy Fantasmic! I cannot wait to see it again.
Please come back and visit us if you have any further questions. We will be happy to help you plan your magical vacation to Walt Disney World Resort.
Sue